Chan Gailey was unable to return the Bills to postseason, a place they haven't been since 1999. / David Butler II, USA TODAY Sports

by Sal Maiorana, USA TODAY Sports

by Sal Maiorana, USA TODAY Sports

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - The list of things that went wrong during Chan Gailey's three-year tenure as head coach of the Buffalo Bills is certainly lengthy.

However, the only entry that really mattered was his record. It was a ghastly 16-32, resulting in three straight last-place finishes in the AFC East, and that's what made the decision for Ralph Wilson - or whoever made the call on Gailey's ouster Monday - a fairly easy one.

There were multiple problems during Gailey's time in Buffalo: quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick's inconsistency, a historically bad defense, Gailey's puzzling misuse of C.J. Spiller, and his mismanagement of in-game decisions, all right at the top of the scroll. But had the Bills been able to make a play here, a play there, and could have won some games that were right there for the winning, there's a good chance Gailey would be planning Buffalo's 2013 season along with general manager Buddy Nix who, at least for now, has avoided a pink slip.

Instead, change will be coming to One Bills Drive again - the new coach will be the seventh since 1998 when Wade Phillips began his three-year term - and the players who have gone through this too often are tired of it.

"It is something you get sick of because that means you're not performing well," said running back Fred Jackson. "You develop a relationship with those guys and you don't like guys coming in and being taken out. Hopefully we can get things turned around."

The status of Nix is unknown, though it seems that if this was a total house cleaning by Wilson, Nix's fate would have also been announced.

Nix, nor anyone else above Gailey, spoke to the media Monday.

Gailey met with reporters to deliver a 90-second statement, but did not take questions.

"First thing I wanted to say is thanks to the Bills' organization, to Buddy and Mr. Wilson, for the opportunity," Gailey began. "I understand this is a business, we didn't get the job done. I've been called two other times to get things turned around (Dallas Cowboys and Georgia Tech); was able to do it, but we weren't able to get this one done soon enough and I understand that completely."

Gailey then moved on to the fans, heaping praise despite the fact that most of them wanted him to be fired.

"I want to thank the fans, great Buffalo fans, great football town," he said as his eyes watered and his voice cracked ever so slightly. "These are loyal, loyal fans and I understand that. I think that the next staff will have a great opportunity for success and to make this another great football franchise. This will probably be - and I say probably, but I think it will be - the first place that's ever fired me, that I'll pull for."

Who that next staff will be is as unknown as next week's weather. Wilson no longer speaks to the media, Nix has stayed away from reporters lately, and there has been almost no buzz regarding potential candidates. Also, Buffalo is now becoming known as a coaching graveyard, and living up to that reputation thanks to 13 consecutive non-playoff seasons. It seems highly unlikely any of the big-name coaches would even take an interview, let alone the job.

Of course there's wishful talk among the tortured fan base about Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden, and now you can add the names of some of the other coaches fired Monday including Andy Reid, Lovie Smith, and Ken Whisenhunt. There are dozens of pro coordinators (Mike Zimmer, Mike McCoy, Jay Gruden) or college head coaches (fill in the blank) who could be contacted, but the reality for the Bills is that the search will likely take time, and it may end with a guy you've barely heard of.

What doomed Gailey from the start was a roster that was largely bereft of enough quality NFL talent, and while that improved in 2011, and then again in 2012, Gailey was unable to get the Bills over the hump as the team repeatedly failed on both offense and defense, and was unable to compete in games against top-level competition.

Gailey's record against teams that finished a season with a winning record was 1-19, and his AFC East mark was 4-14. Buffalo's six wins this season came against teams with a cumulative record of 27-69, and four of those teams will pick in the top seven of the 2013 NFL draft.

"I think everybody in here has a tremendous amount of respect for Chan," said Williams. "I've been lucky in that the two guys I've had as head coaches (Gailey and Jauron) are really good, solid men, great men to be with. Obviously we haven't won enough, which is what it's all about."

Open locker room time for the media was just ending when the news came down about Gailey, so most of the players were unavailable for comment. Several took to Twitter to express gratitude to Gailey for giving them their chance in the NFL.

As for Fitzpatrick, he spoke before the news, but he clearly understood what was going to be happening.

"Before he took over here, I was the lost journeyman, bouncing around from team to team and he was the guy who gave me my first real shot," Fitzpatrick said. "He was the guy that showed a lot of confidence in me, stood by my side the last few years, and he means a lot to me as a coach and a person and somebody that I'll always respect."

No matter who the new coach is, Williams only hopes that the never-ending misery in Buffalo actually comes to an end.

"I get tired of losing," the seventh-year veteran said. "Honestly, I think every year is a new year whether you have the same coach or not, you're kind of starting over at square one trying to find the identity of the team. More than anything I get tired of putting in tons and tons of work and it's hard sitting up here talking to you guys at the end of December feeling like another one kind of slipped through your fingers."

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Maiorana also writes for the Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle, a Gannett property